Six arrested after tainted liquor kills 59 people

Locally brewed liquor apparently tainted with chemicals killed 59 people in southern India at the weekend, after police shut liquor shops in parts of Karnataka state because of voting for the state government. Twenty-seven deaths occurred in Bangalore, 19 in the neighbouring Kolar district, and 13 in Tamil Nadu state. Seventeen people were in hospital. Police said six people had been arrested for selling the liquor, which had been sent for analysis. Bars and stores selling alcohol are routinely closed during elections in India to prevent politicians from handing out free alcohol to win votes.